Behold the ultimate guide to shopping for the booze enthusiast in your life. We’ve put together bottles they’ll love based on what they drink now.
If they drink Belgian beers, get them a Trappist Ale.
Crafted by monks, these beers are some of the oldest recipes still available today. We love them for the history and the tried-and-true flavor profiles that are great for pairing with holiday meals (and desserts) due to their slightly sweet, fruity and bready notes.
Want to get something unique and hard to find? Chimay Grand Réserve 2012 Magnums are available at Bottlecraft North Park, or stop by any of the other shops to pick up bottles of Westmalle, Orval, or Rochefort.
If they drink farmhouse ales, get them a barrel-aged saison.
If you have a loved one who enjoys a saison, a farmhouse ale or just Belgian beer in general, there’s plenty of options that elicit a similar yet elevated experience.
Try a barrel-aged beer from Sante Adairius, such as Cellarman, or Lost Wisdom from Cellarmaker, a dry-hopped Saison with Brett Brux, Brett Drei, and Lactobacillus dry hopped with Nelson, Mosaic and Citra, or opt for a bottle of Le Saisonnier from Side Project, a rarity in San Diego available now at Bottlecraft Little Italy and North Park.
If they drink wine, get them some bubbly.
Every wine-lover needs a good bubbly now and then, especially when it comes to the holidays. You can choose to shell out a little more money for Champagne, which comes exclusively from the Champagne region of France, or you can find some great alternatives in the form of Cava, Prosecco, Crémant, or sparkling rosé.
Some favorites from Bottlecraft North Park: Alta Alella Mirgin Gran Reserva, a damn good Sparkling Rosé at a budget-friendly price; J.Lassalle Champagne, a true Champagne with a gold label that screams luxury; and Champagne Fleury Brut Blanc de Noirs, a natural champagne of Pinot Noir with a classic texture and a lengthy finish.
If they drink dark beers, get them a barrel-aged stout.
The only remedy to winter’s early sundowns and chilly temps is a toasty, bold beer. There’s no better time for a barrel-aged stout, with its layers of flavor, tasty adjuncts (like coffee or cacao) or simply the warmth of a 15% abv. These beers can be drank immediately or aged, which makes them ideal for gifting.
We love Burgeon’s Barrel-Aged Dutchman’s Pipe, Fremont’s B-Bomb or anything from Bottle Logic if you like a touch of sweetness.
If they like barrel-aged sours, get them Lambic.
Originating from Belgium, lambics are sour, funky and unique; an integral part of any beer collector’s cellar. Different types of lambics include gueuze, kriek (made with cherries), and framboise (made with raspberries). They’re labor-intensive beverages; often aged for years, and expertly blended resulting in unique flavors produced by experimenting with spontaneous fermentation and local fruits.
We recommend lambics from Tilquin or Drie Fonteinen for special occasions.
If they drink Whiskey, get them a Bottlecraft single barrel pick.
While you can get whiskey anywhere, you can only get our barrels at Bottlecraft. Aging location, temperature, blending and mash bill all affect the taste of a whiskey. Our lineup of single barrel pick whiskeys were hand-selected by our team and make for a unique gift you won’t find anywhere else.
If they like ciders, get them Mead.
Fermented from honey, mead is also a gluten-free option like cider. Mead can run the gamut from light and bubbly to rich and decadent.
Some of our favorite special occasion bottles come from Schramm’s, a meadery based in Michigan with sumptuous flavors such as Ginger, Balaton Cherry and Marionberry. Another honorable mention, at a slightly higher price point: Superstition Mead. We have meads available at North Park, Little Italy and Oceanside.
Still stumped? We have gift cards available in store, and
e-gift cards which can be sent via email, good at any Drink Good family business, including Bottlecraft North Park, Little Italy, Oceanside, Long Beach and San Luis Obispo; Vino Carta Little Italy and Solana Beach; Little Thief North Park and soon-to-be Bock Bar in South Park. Please note these gift cards are
not accepted at Bottlecraft Liberty Station.
